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São João.

Mon 21 – Thu 24 June 20274 days8–16 peopleNo driving · hosted
Dates & booking →Day by day
Dates21–25 Jun 2027
Duration4 days
Fly intoPorto (OPO)
Group8–16 people
StayHostel or hotel twin

The trip

Porto's biggest night of the year: the whole city on the streets, plastic hammers, grilled sardines, basil pots and fireworks over the Douro at midnight. Four days of port lodges, river cruises, old trams and the food of northern Portugal.

Porto

The festival

Key dates.

São João falls on the same date every year. In 2027 the big night is a Wednesday.

Through JuneSantos PopularesStreet parties and decorations build all month.
Wed 23 Jun, eveningNoite de São JoãoThe whole city out: sardine grills, music everywhere, plastic hammers.
Midnight 23–24 JunFireworksThe big show over the Douro between the Ribeira and Gaia.
Early hours 24 JunWalk to FozTradition: walk the river to the beach at Foz for sunrise.
Thu 24 JunRegata dos Barcos RabelosThe old port boats race on the Douro. Public holiday.

Start to finish

Day by day.

Timings are a guide; your host adjusts on the day for the festival, the weather and the group.

01Monday 21 June

Arrive & the Ribeira

Day 1

  • Afternoon · Land at OPO — Metro or minibus to the hotel.
  • Late afternoon · Ribeira & Dom Luís I bridge — Walk to the river and cross the top deck to Gaia.
  • Sunset · Jardim do Morro — The best sunset view over the city.
  • Dinner · Taberna dos Mercadores — Fresh fish and arroz de marisco. Small place, so book or split the group.
02Tuesday 22 June

Port lodges & the river

Day 2

  • Morning · Six Bridges cruise — 50 minutes on a rabelo-style boat from the Ribeira.
  • Late morning · Port lodge tour — Graham's, Taylor's or Sandeman in Gaia. Group tasting.
  • Lunch · Gaia waterfront — Grilled fish facing the old town.
  • Afternoon · Tram 1 to Foz — The old tram along the river to the Atlantic.
  • Evening · Matosinhos — Grilled fish on Rua Heróis de França. Metro back.
03Wednesday 23 June

City by day, São João by night

Day 3

  • Breakfast · Majestic Café — 1920s Belle Époque café. Or a pastel de nata at Manteigaria.
  • Morning · Centre — São Bento's tiles, Livraria Lello, Torre dos Clérigos, Bolhão market.
  • Lunch · Café Santiago — The classic francesinha. Nap afterwards.
  • Evening · Out with the crowds — Hammer and basil pot in hand, follow the music through Fontainhas and the Ribeira.
  • Midnight · Fireworks over the Douro — From the Ribeira, the Gaia side or the Jardim do Morro.
  • Small hours · Walk to Foz — Optional, but the proper way to end it.
04Thursday 24 June

Recovery & the rabelo regatta

Day 4

  • Late morning · Slow start — Public holiday. Walk the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal.
  • Lunch · Casa Guedes — Roast pork sandwich with Serra da Estrela cheese.
  • Afternoon · Regata dos Barcos Rabelos — The port boats race on the river.
  • Dinner · Abadia do Porto — Tripas à moda do Porto, the city's signature dish.
  • Fri 25 Jun · Fly home — Metro or minibus to OPO.

Base camp

Where we stay.

Without bikes we stay central and walk everywhere. Two options on every trip, both booked through Fora at cost:

Option 1 · Hostel (best value): a central hostel around Aliados, Baixa or the Ribeira. Porto has some of Europe's best hostels, with private group rooms.

Option 2 · Hotel, twin rooms shared by 2: a hotel in the Baixa or Ribeira. Walking distance to everything.

Airport: Porto (OPO). Metro line E runs straight to Trindade in about 30 minutes, or book a private minibus. For 8–16 people, a private 16-seat minibus from the airport is usually cheaper per head than taxis and keeps the group together.

The details

What's included.

Included

  • Your host with the group 24/7 from start to finish, all their own costs included
  • Your choice of hostel (private group rooms) or hotel twin rooms, booked at cost through Fora
  • Airport transfers and the private minibus legs in the itinerary
  • Festival planning, timings and the best spots to watch
  • Restaurant reservations and the tickets listed in the itinerary, at cost

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals and drinks
  • Optional extras and personal spending
  • Travel insurance

The table

Eat like a tripeiro.

Eat & drink

  • Francesinha — Café Santiago: Steak and sausage sandwich, melted cheese, beer sauce.
  • Sardinhas assadas — Street grills: Grilled sardines on bread. The taste of the night.
  • Sandes de pernil — Casa Guedes: Roast pork with runny Serra cheese.
  • Tripas à moda do Porto — Abadia do Porto: Tripe and white bean stew.
  • Arroz de marisco — Taberna dos Mercadores: Soupy seafood rice.
  • Grilled fish — Matosinhos: Charcoal-grilled fish off the boats.
  • Pastel de nata — Manteigaria: Custard tarts, warm from the oven.
  • Port wine — Gaia lodges: Tawny, ruby and white. Try a 'Porto tónico'.

Good to know

  • Book accommodation early: São João is Porto's peak night.
  • Get an Andante card for the Metro.
  • The Metro runs all night on São João.
  • Book group tables ahead.
  • Agree a meeting point for the fireworks.

2027 departure

Save your spot.

One departure, built around the festival. Runs with a minimum of 8 people, maximum 16. Everything booked at cost through Fora; your host fee is shown as its own line on your quote.

Departure21–25 June 20278–16 people · min 8 to runRequest a spot →

From €865 per person in a hostel group room, or from €1,025 in a hotel twin room shared by 2. Based on 8 people; bigger groups pay a little less. Flights not included. Asking is free and doesn't commit you to anything.

Your host fee: €85 per person per day

One simple line on your quote (4 days × €85). It covers a dedicated host who's with the group 24/7 from start to finish, all the planning and bookings (beds, tables, tickets and transfers at cost through Fora, no mark-up), and all of the host's own expenses: their room, meals, travel and tickets. You never pay extra for your host.

Photo: View of Ribeira from Cais de Gaia, 20250605 1628 9890.jpg by Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.